Axle and flange straightener



Dec. 13, 1955 Filed Jan. 24, 1952 o o o o d o o o w. w. FULTZ 2,726,703

AXLE AND FLANGE STRAIGHTENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o o o o o o o o INVENTOR.

W/LL/AMW FUL TZ.

3y Jimmy-WM.

ATTam/EY,

Dec. 13, 1955 w, w, FULTZ 2,726,703

AXLE AND FLANGE STRAIGHTENER Filed Jan. 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

W/LL 1AM W. Fun-z mw/gz w.

Arron/var! United States Patent 6) WilliamW. Fultz Baltimore, .Md. Application January 2. .8.055.

3 Claims. (El; 153-352) This invention relates to, apparatus for, straightening axles and more particularly to a device for straightening rear automobile axles with wheelflangesattached thereto.

At the present time there is alackof axle andiwheel flange straighteners and it is customaryand cheaper to discard the bent rear axle andbent wheel flange and-replace them withnew ones, than. it is to attempt to straighten them withthe equipment now available.

It is an objectof theinvention to provide a single-unit for centering and straighteningthe rear axle and the wheel flange of an automobile while cold.

A further object of; the invention; istq provide a spring tensioned centering device for straightening rear axles and wheelflanges.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved portable axle straightening device with a removable centering device to enable the machine to be used for straightening wheel flanges.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a straightening device of the spring tensioned type compressible when the straightener pressure is applied and automatically returning to its starting position when the pressure is released.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a new and improved straightening device having a spring loaded platform which is depressed a predetermined amount until it stops, straightening the bent article and returning to its starting point after the pressure is removed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

For a clearer understanding of the invention and the objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein a particular form of the invention is indicated. These drawings when used in conjunction with the following description serve to illustrate the invention, its principles and the operation thereof, while the claims indicate the scope thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the axle and flange straightener embodying this invention showing the machine adjusted for straightening the axle, shown in dotted outline;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation similar to Figure 1, except that the machine is set up for straightening the wheel flange;

Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3, showing the centering device in full lines in position for straightening the wheel flange and in dotted outline when moved out of the way when using the axle straightening device, as shown in Figure l; and

Figure 5 is an end elevation of Figure 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction shown in the drawings the side uprights 11 and 12 are provided with bearing angles 13 2,726,703 Reten d. Dec.- 3,, 95.

a heir 19%;. ends dis -r bute he o v r. a: gr

ateaoi efl n he ma h e sposi o e Q e pp endsof-theside uprights, 11 and 12. are tied together by o} mem ers ihf i pp r. f eofse t ln' e v s.- as. a e r ng u face. o o l rs 5; a h d a p a e.

,6,}! t l, over. I epla e 6; uppor s. tud 7 tched. to t. by nuts .8,." Thelqw r'. nd d 17 pass s.- hmugh. e r ng; p a e. .9 an pp t y drauliq ja ck 2 0 which, can he slid, along the members 14 nit he.lqce m l e enr n hea eto be straightene -x T e ma- 5 i eria ki ipr vid d w h: inter. chang able pu er. b rs; t es p f. t x or flange to be worked on. Channels 22 are Positioned qnr he side. upr gh s. and. e owhe me be s 14 prefe bly y bo t 51 p i t on rl n h e 2.- to allow he e ch nnels. o, e, adius a ly. pe i ioned. he s Wr hts q u lhe i h ebe. worked n. .s 1fsnrl fe ab y tta hed. he gw end. Q lhe m t. a et. t v pp rt. a. hx rau ie. p mp.- o. b p ra e by a handle 25 to force. the pressure medium through the ho lti o, pe e heiaekl'm. he h a c j c and pumpmen isi ed: ere n. a e. Q on nt o construction. and e ign. ni rr ne a gn a li no n to os rs in he A slotted plate-27 is, attachedto the ,upper face of the qhann lslland ts s ide ot h anvils 28 a 9- oose v pe t on d. n floa i g upp s 3 The p a e 27 a s up r membersffieflpt j ti gw dlytherefrom that act as guides for supports 32 resting on springs 33 which move upwardly until they contact the lower face of the plate 27 and move downwardly until they reach the stops 31. Plungers 34 are attached to the supports 32 and move with them. A pair of centers comprising a dead center 35 and a live or spring tensioned center 36 of conventional design are positioned on a removable plate 38 that rests on the floating supports 32. The plate 38 and the centers are removed from the plate 27 to provide access to a slot 48 as noted in Figure 2 so that the axle 49 can project through it to be attached to the vertical centers. Handles 51 are used to tighten the centers 35 and 36 to the plate 38 when properly adjusted.

The vertical centering unit is used after the axle has been straightened and forms part of the wheel flange straightener and comprises a pair of brackets 41? afiixed to the side upright 11 and supporting a shaft 41 having a key 41 which align the vertical centering bearing 42. Springs 44 and collars 43 are positioned on the shaft and adjusted to tension and cushion the vertical center bearings 42 to suit the length of the axles they are to be used with. The shaft 41 is held against rotation by a pin 45 that holds it in fixed relationship to the brackets 40 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 during the flange straightening operation.

One method of operating the device is to place the axle 49 between the centers 35 and 36 (see Fig. l) and the anvils 28 are positioned under the axle. The handle 25 is moved back and forth causing the hydraulic pump to pump the hydraulic medium through the hose to the jack 20, causing the pusher bar 21 down against the axle 49, this causes the centers 35 and 36, anvils 28, axle 49 and removable plate 33 to depress the floating supports 32 until they reach the stops 31 which limits its downward travel, further pressure by the pusher bar 21 against the axle 49 bends it sufiiciently to straighten it. The valve 53 on the hydraulic pump is reversed and reverses the action of the jack 2i and raises the pusher bar 21 allowing the axle, anvils 28 and centers 35 and 36, removable plate 38 and floating supports 32 to rise through the action of springs 33 until the floating supports contact the plate 27. The axle 49 is pressed against the spring loaded center 36 and removed from between the centers 35 and 36. The removable plate 38 and centers are re moved from the plate 27, leaving a slot or hole therein. The vertical centers 42 are then swung into the position shown in Figure 3, and the axle 49 is extended through the slot 48 and then placed between the centers 42, the anvils 28 are then placed under the flanges as shown in Figure 3, the valve 53 is then positioned, the handle 25 is moved forcing the hydraulic medium from the pump through the hose 26 to the jack 20 forcing the pusher bar 21' against the flange 50 and straightening it. The valve 53 is reversed allowing the pusher bar 21 to be retracted upwardly, and the straightened axle and wheel flange to be removed from the centers 42. The pin 45 is removed and the' centers 42 are then swung out of the way as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, and the removable plate 38 and centers 35 and 36 are then replaced and another axle is afiixed to be straightened and the operation repeated.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A straightening apparatus of the kind described comprising a frame composed of a pair of side'members and 7 an upper cross member connecting the upper ends of the side members, a jack carried by said cross member and slidable therealong, a plate carried by said side members below the cross member, a pair of spaced-apart centering elements adapted to engage the ends of a bent axle therebetween, in proximity to the aforesaid jack, a

pair of anvils located between the centering elements and supporting the bent axle, and means for yieldingly sup porting said centering elements and anvils on the aforesaid plate while the jack presses the axle back to shape.

2. A straightening apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the yielding supporting means consist of a pair of U-shaped brackets mounted on and beneath the plate, a pair of supports, said plate having a longitudinal opening and said supports extending beneath the said opening, each of said supports having a stem depending thereincluding stops carried by the U-shaped bracket to limit the yielding movement of the supports.

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,690,006 Furbush Oct. 30, 1928 1,786,847 Hunt Dec. 30, 1930 2,165,504 Pfanser July 11, 1939 2,214,881 Doherty Sept. 17, 1940 2,219,191 Merrill et al Oct. 22, 1940 2,233,371 Smith Feb. 25, 1941 2,276,941 Deloghia Mar. 17, 1942 2,372,509 Merrill et a1 Mar. 27, 1945 2,562,213 Ross July 31, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS,

France Apr. 18, 1930. 

